[In 1986, as a newly ordained priest, I wrote the following opinion piece for The Pilot. I wrote then that I was amazed at the extent and impact of the ministry of Boston Catholic Television. My amazement has only grown over the past 35 years. With the pandemic, the impact of CatholicTV, and especially the daily Mass, has grown exponentially and internationally. Thank God, we have begun returning to our churches for Mass. The TV Mass and live-streaming of Mass from our parishes remain enormous blessings, which have provided great spiritual strength during these unprecedented times. They also present some real challenges as to how we participate in the Mass. These challenges to participating as fully as possible in the Mass were evident in 1986 and have been heightened in the pandemic.]

The picture is now commonplace in all seasons of the sporting year. Recent Boston championship teams in baseball, basketball, and football have led to long lines of fans waiting for tickets to the Championship Series, the World Series, or the Superbowl. Many fans who in the past few years have packed the Boston Garden, Fenway Park, and the Superdome in New Orleans now proudly hold onto their ticket stubs as souvenirs and "proof" that they were there -- that through their presence and participation they were part of sports history.

Those of us who watched the games at home can recognize that viewing the games on television was "the next best thing to being I there." Indeed, watching the games on television has benefits, as well. We have the luxury of instant replays and the comfort of our own homes. But the sights, sounds, smells, and excitement of being at the ballpark are missing. Certainly, anyone who was lucky enough to have a ticket to the game would not choose instead to stay at home and watch the game on television.

All analogies limp. But I present this analogy when considering the television Mass. The excitement and desire to participate as fully as possible in a World Series game should be minimal when compared to our excitement and desire to participate in the Eucharistic celebration at our local parishes. Yet, some people who are confined to home or hospital find it difficult, if not impossible, to participate in local Masses. The television Mass is a great blessing for many people who are homebound and thus unable to participate in the daily or weekly celebration of the Eucharist in their own parish. The television Mass is "the next best thing to being there."

In the course of visiting many of the homebound parishioners of St. Mary's in Lynn, I have been amazed at the extent and depth of the ministry of Boston's Catholic Television. Many people are faithful daily participants in the television Mass. Their days are planned around the Mass. The liturgical themes and homilies provide inspiration and strength to thousands of people each day. What a joy it is to bring the Eucharist to the homebound and to join their private viewing of the television Mass with the communal celebration.

The fact that most people who view the television Mass do so alone points to a concern and a challenge.

Our viewing of the television Mass must be complemented by our prayerful participation. Since television is a medium of the spectator and not the participant, there is a tendency to be a passive viewer of the Mass. To join ourselves actively in the participation of the Eucharist through television is a real challenge. Yet, the Eucharistic celebration is not meant for the spectator. We are each called to join actively in the Mass. One way to increase our participation in television Mass is by regularly receiving the Eucharist from our parish's Eucharistic Ministers. In this way, the homebound person participates directly in the local community's celebration of the Eucharist. Additionally, individuals living in apartment buildings or in close proximity could join together in prayer.

Shared prayer and reflection can add to the communal nature of the celebration. The love that each person has for Christ in the Eucharist is meant to be shared. A simple but often courageous invitation to a friend or neighbor to join in celebrating the television Mass could be the beginning of many more blessings.

For those who are homebound, the television Mass is a great source of strength. To view the Mass in our living rooms is a great convenience. Yet, the purpose of the television Mass is to bring the Eucharistic celebration to people who might otherwise be deprived.

Sometimes the coziness of a chair, the trouble of facing rain or snow, or the simple need to rest at home may present a temptation for those of us who are well to stay at home -- "Why not?" we say, the Mass is on television. For those who can attend Mass, the television Mass should in no way become a substitute for joining the local community in celebrating the Eucharist. If we would not dream of staying at home and watching television instead of attending a World Series Game, then, for those who can participate, nothing should prevent us from joining our parish in celebrating the Eucharist -- not even the convenience of the television Mass at home. The local celebration of the Eucharist in our parishes is the coming together of the Body of Christ. Each person is important to our gathering -- every person is needed and wanted at Sunday Mass.

The television Mass reaches millions of people who otherwise might be unable to join in the prayers and sacrifice of the Mass. But simply viewing the Mass is not enough. The best way to participate at home is to join in the celebration through our prayers, through receiving the Eucharist regularly at home, and through joining with others in prayer. The television Mass will then become "the next best thing to being there."

FATHER RICHARD M. ERIKSON SERVES THE READING CATHOLIC COMMUNITY AND HAS CELEBRATED MASS REGULARLY ON CATHOLICTV OVER THE PAST 35 YEARS.